Bush vetoes troop withdrawal legislation

Today President Bush, in only the second time in his Presidency, vetoed the troop withdrawal bill submitted to him by the Democrat controlled Congress. He rejected legislation pushed by Democrat leaders that would require U.S. Combat troops to be withdrawn from Iraq by Oct. 1 with a goal of a complete pullout six months later. I think Bush had to veto this. Even though I didn't agree with the Iraq War, we cannot leave now. If we pull out before the Iraqi govt. can take over, then we make the situation worse. I firmly believe that as long as we have been fighting Al-Queda over there, they have not been able to attack us here. We have new information that possibly the Al Queda leader in Iraq has been killed. If we get confirmation on this, then this is another major victory.

We are winning the war on terror. That point cannot be debated. Now, we will see what happens next. Lacking the votes to override the President's veto, Democrats have already signaled they intend to approve a replacement bill stripped of the troop withdrawal timetable. Determined to challenge Bush's policy, they are turning their attention to setting goals for the Iraqi government to meet as it struggles to establish a more secure, democratic society.
The White House and congressional Republicans have also called for so-called benchmarks, but only if they don't mandate a troop withdrawal or some other major change in war policy.